Donald Sinden
Biography
Donald Sinden was an English actor who first stepped on stage with an amateur company in Brighton in 1941, turned professional soon afterwards, and had two terms of training at the Webber Douglas Academy. His first leading film role, in The Cruel Sea (1953), was a critical and financial success, and he went on to a seven-year contract with the Rank Organisation, appearing in many 1950s films including Mogambo (1953), Doctor in the House (1954), Above Us the Waves (1955) and Doctor at Large (1957). He became known for playing Benskin in the Doctor series. On stage he won an Evening Standard best actor award in 1977 for King Lear, and from 1967 he was an associate artist with the Royal Shakespeare Company. He starred in the television sitcoms Two's Company and Never the Twain and played Sir Joseph Channing in Judge John Deed. He was knighted in 1997 and died in 2014.
90years old at death
- Born St Budeaux
- Died Wittersham
- Star sign: LibraThe sign runs September 23 to October 22
- Also credited as Sir Donald Alfred Sinden
Movie Career
- Films
- 10
- Career span
- 43 years1953 to 1996
First and latest
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Early training
Donald Sinden later trained as an actor at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, where he spent two terms.
A first
Sinden was the only member of the cast of The Heiress not to miss a performance, giving more consecutive performances at the Haymarket than any other actor since the theater was built in 1820.
A first
After the production moved to New York in 1975, Sinden was the first person to receive the newly established Broadway Drama Desk Special Award.
A first
In 1979 Sinden took the title role in Othello, a production directed by Ronald Eyre, and became the last "blacked-up white" actor to play that part for the RSC.
Getting ready for a role
For his role, Sinden asked Georgette Heyer, a Regency novelist, for guidance and got it, covering the costume and mannerisms of the character.
Donald Sinden movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Ralph Thomas directed four of these films. James Robertson Justice appears in three of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
James Robertson Justice's page
Dirk Bogarde's page
George Coulouris's page
Geoffrey Keen's page
Joan Sims's page
Martin Boddey's page
Ralph ThomasDirector, 4 films, 1954 to 1957
All films by Ralph Thomas
Also two films together5 more actors
- Michael MedwinDoctor at Large (1957) and Above Us the Waves (1955)
- Judith FurseDoctor at Large (1957) and Mad About Men (1954)
- Bruce SetonMogambo (1953) and The Cruel Sea (1953)
- Nicholas PhippsDoctor in the House (1954) and Mad About Men (1954)
- Muriel PavlowDoctor at Large (1957) and Doctor in the House (1954)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Awards
Three awards and honors.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| Commander of the Order of the British Empire | Won | ||
| Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts | Won | ||
| Knight Bachelor | Won | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.